10 Highlights from CBMA's 10th Anniversary Year

2018 was a momentous year for the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, as we celebrated 10 years of working daringly to build beloved communities for Black men and boys across the nation. As the year comes to a close, we reflect on the top highlights from the past 12 months. Check them out!

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10. MLK NOW 2018

On MLK Day 2018, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement partnered once more with Blackout for Human Rights on the annual "MLK Now" event to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More than 2,000 people filled Harlem’s Riverside Church to see performances by Oscar-Winner and “BLACK PANTHER” Star Lupita Nyong’o, Grammy Winning Artist Black Thought, Actor and “GROWN-ISH” Star Yara Shahidi, NBA Legend Allan Houston, and more at the third annual “MLK Now.” Comedian/Author Baratunde Thurston and Comedian/Writer Akilah Hughes served as the official MC's for the program. See more HERE!

9. Celebrating Black Male Millennial Stories at The Schomburg

For Black History Month, CBMA hosted the special Black History Month event, "Black Male Millennials: Stories of Power, Purpose & Resilience" at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York. This free event brought together three dynamic authors, Quentin Vennie, Jim St. Germain, and Richard L. Taylor, Jr., who each took the stage to share their journeys as young Black men in an effort to elevate more positive, nuanced and complex narratives of Black men and boys. The program also featured a performance by Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter Gordon Chambers from his latest album "Surrender."

8. CBMA Partners with The Colored Girls Museum

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA) earlier this year launched a new partnership with The Colored Girls Museum (TCGM), a first-of-its-kind museum based in Philadelphia that honors the stories, experiences, and history of women and girls of color. The partnership kicked off with #ColoredGirlTalks takeovers on CBMA's Instagram page featuring curated content and conversations with some of museum's featured artists.

Said CBMA CEO Shawn Dove, “While Black Male Achievement is our organization's core focus, we know that building beloved communities where Black men and boys can succeed and prosper is impossible without the inclusion, leadership, and voices of Black women and girls." LEARN MORE HERE.

7. Promise of Place 2.0

CBMA kicked off 2018 with the launch of the new "Promise of Place" report highlighting how cities across the U.S. have increased their investment and action to support Black men and boys. This update from the first 2015 PoP report gauges city-level commitment to Black males through a Black Male Achievement City Index, which scores 50 cities according to their promise in helping Black men and boys succeed, and outlines clear action steps to make further strides. The report found that, even as support at the national level has been eliminated or scaled back, cities are leading the way to champion Black Male Achievement. Read the report and see how your city scored HERE.

6. Inaugural CBMA | Fund 2 Foundation Restoration Retreat

In July 2018, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement joined the Fund II Foundation to host the inaugural Restoration Retreat in Lincoln Hills, CO on the beautiful, sprawling property of the Foundation's founder and visionary philanthropist, Robert F. Smith. At the retreat, CBMA convened 35 young Black men from our five Promise of Place cities -- Detroit, Louisville, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Oakland -- for an immersive and transformative experience that included yoga, meditation, leadership development, and co-existing with nature. Visit HERE for a glimpse into the retreat, including a short highlight video!

5. CBMA Brings the Rumble to Milwaukee

Earlier this year, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement took its flagship event "Rumble Young Man, Rumble" to the City of Milwaukee for the first time! For two and a half days, local leaders from various sectors gathered at the Harley Davidson Museum for a series of sessions and discussions designed to enhance individual and organizational leadership capacity, and strengthen local and national advocacy on behalf of Black men and boys. In addition to these workshops and sessions, Rumble Milwaukee featured remarks from Mayor Tom Barrett, along with artistic performances.

For a full recap of the convening, check out this interview featuring CBMA VP of Membership Steve Vassor with Milwaukee's NPR-affiliate station WUWM.

4. CBMA Launches RYMR Flyweight Camp in Belize

This summer, CBMA launched the first-ever “Flyweight Training Camp,” a pilot program to develop 50 young Black men and boys to accelerate their leadership skills, personal development, and academic performance, enhance their social interactions, and increase their cultural awareness. The camp included a ten-day international study-abroad trip to Belize.

Since 2011, CBMA's signature event “Rumble Young Man Rumble!” has convened leaders nationwide to share promising practices and lessons learned, and to create collaborations with Black men and boys in communities across the country. Learn more about RYMR HERE!

3. 2018 American Express Leadership Academy at CBMA

In May 2018, CBMA, in partnership with American Express, announced the selection of 24 emerging leaders from across the country for the American Express Leadership Academy at CBMA! Each recipient was chosen based on their demonstrated track record and continued commitment to improving life outcomes for Black men and boys in their respective cities.

The American Express Leadership Academy at CBMA, formerly known as the Building Beloved Community Leadership Fellowship, is an intensive year-long leadership development program aimed at deepening the impact of individuals and organizations working on issues that directly affect America’s Black males. Learn more and meet our 2018 Leadership class HERE!

2. CBMA Turns 10!

2018 marked the 10th anniversary of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement's efforts to improve life outcomes for Black men and boys. Launched as a three-year initiative at the Open Society Foundations on June 12, 2008, CBMA’s spun-off as an independent entity on MLK Day 2015 and has since continued working daringly to accelerate investments in Black men and boys to unprecedented levels.

As part of its year-long roster of 10th anniversary activities, CBMA launched a special commemorative website featuring member spotlights and an interactive timeline charting advancements in Black Male Achievement over the past decade. In October, CBMA released a 10-Year Impact Report and held its "Black Male Re-Imagined: Gala & Fundraiser" in New York City to recognize key accomplishments and trailblazing leadership in the BMA movement. Watch Gala Highlights HERE, as well as this video charting "A Decade of Risk, Urgency and Momentum".

1. #CBMANext

Looking ahead towards the next 10 years of Black Male Achievement, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement has launched #CBMANext, our new initiative to engage members and leaders around what it will take to drive the movement forward, and further strengthen the field to achieve measurable impact nationally and in cities across the country. Officially launched on Giving Tuesday, #CBMANext includes a push for greater philanthropic and individual investments towards helping CBMA amplify and catalyze Black Male Achievement around the country. How can you support our efforts to build Beloved Communities for Black men and boys? Make an end-of-year donation HERE!

What were some of your top moments in Black Male Achievement over the past year? Share yours on social media tagging us on Twitter @blackmaleachievement with the hashtag #LoveLearnLead!